Grow With Us

We've examined the struggles that come with fasting and the distractions that crop up when we pray. Today we look at the Word. What negative attacks can happen to us when we commit to reading the Word of God? What measures can we take to ensure we don't fail when those attacks arise? Let's find out.

The Bible is full of answers for everything we face in this life. Stories of men and women who have faced similar issues as we do today litter the Word of God. Prayers aimed at situations that we go through are found in both Old and New Testaments. Wise and knowledgeable thoughts populate each book of the anthology of God' Word to us. So why is it that we find ourselves ignoring the Good Book when we most need it?

I've had it happen in the past where a situation crops up in my life. I'll pray about it. Sometimes, I'll even fast about. Of course, I'm going to try and put my two cents worth of thoughts into fixing it as well. However, I have found several times looking back that I neglected God's Word through the whole process. Those stories, prayers and words of wisdom and knowledge I talked about in the previous paragraph escape me because I'm too dialed in trying to fix it with my thoughts, my prayers and my actions both spiritual and temporal. It was about what I could do, not about what God wanted me to do. I didn't think to stop and read what God had already done, what he had already prescribed and what men and women had already prayed.

Now, don't get me wrong. I quoted scriptures that I knew. I have my select verses I go to when I get in a bind and i used to whip them out as I trudged along trying to control my situation instead of giving control to God by reading His Word. Scriptures I had never thought would aid me sat waiting in my Bible on the coffee table right in front of me. God was waiting for me to trust Him.

One day, I had just come through a really difficult time. I was emotionally and spiritually scarred up and felt physically weak from the trials I endured. Through the whole process I prayed and quoted my favorite scriptures and even fasted. Those elements saw me through, but I still felt like I missed something. I opened up my Bible to read through for a new devotion series I was going to write and the answer to that situation I languished over for weeks was staring me right in the face within the first verses I read. What took me weeks to solve could have been found in moments had I just looked to God's Word - His voice written out on paper. My prayer and fasting would have been more focused and my own actions would have been more tempered. From that day forward, I purposed to read God's Word daily, not just for my situations, but so I would continually grow in my understanding of who God is and what He is to me.

Thought for the day

If the answers to everything we face in life were found in one book, we would read it every day. They are. Why don't we?

We don't want to waste life flailing with situations to which God has already given the answer. Reading God's Word gives us insight into our situations and understanding of what we face and even why we face it. Moreover, it gives us a clearer picture of God and what He desires for us. By diving into God's Word at least once a day, we come to understand God better, His plan for us and what we can do to achieve a better relationship with Him that also reveals our purpose in Him.

By the way, the scripture I found was Psalms 37:4-6. I'd like to share it with you because it has become a huge part of my life, giving me the big picture so that I don't get sucked down by the trivial things of this life.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

What scripture has God led you to that helped you through a situation you went through? Write it in the comments below so as to encourage all of our readers.

Author

Chris Farris is the author of The Way, a manual detailing how to implement the Beatitudes into your life. He review events and other media and offers other insights into writing and working for the Kingdom of God.